Leaf 323 – Reflections / Art Inspired
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| Matt Francis - The Woman with the Golden Umbrella |
Living in Japan, where it is often sunny whatever the season, it’s interesting to see that parasols are still widely used here. I remember visiting at park in the UK during the height of summer with a Japanese friend, where we encountered a small English boy who was utterly perplexed as to why anyone would decide to use an umbrella on a day when it very clearly wasn’t raining! – But as our summers across the globe seem to be getting worryingly warmer each year, we in the West would be wise to re-adopt the parasol.
(Although, having said that, I’m
slightly perturbed to notice how in recent years the use of handheld battery-operated
fans and even jackets fitted with in-built electric powered ventilation systems
are becoming increasingly common here in Japan. It seems illogical to me that
adapting to climate change by adopting technologies which require the increased
consumption of power is a sensible response. In the long run it will surely
only make things worse. Short-term thinking, always in favour of personal gain first
and foremost is perhaps our biggest collective enemy.)
Sheltering from the sun
– a girl under a
golden umbrella.
